Latest news with #Padrón
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why this resort in Mallorca is the dreamiest getaway for Londoners in need of a reset
As someone living in London - where the days blur together and even a trip to the park requires strategic timing - I know how vital it is to find a proper escape. Not just a change of scenery, but somewhere that lets you breathe again. That's exactly what I found in Kimpton Aysla Mallorca. Mallorca has long been a favourite for British travellers, but this hotel isn't your average island resort. The lobby and stairs at Kimpton (Image: Poppy Huggett) It's a serene slice of luxury tucked away in Santa Ponsa, less than 30 minutes from Palma airport, and unbelievably just a two-hour flight from Gatwick. You could leave your flat in south east London in the morning and be lounging in a private hammock by the afternoon. The stunning gardens and Zayt Pool Club at Kimpton Aysla Mallorca (Image: Poppy Huggett) I arrived on Tuesday, May 6, and from the moment I stepped out of the airport transfer, it felt like I'd landed in a different world. Check-in came with a creamy welcome drink - like a milky island twist on a smoothie - and warm, effortless hospitality that immediately took the edge off the London stress I'd brought with me. My room was a King with a private garden, and it was a dream. There were multiple seating areas outside, big, cushioned loungers, and even a hammock perfect for an afternoon read (or nap). Inside, the space was calm and beautifully styled - a massive queen-sized bed with cloud-like feather bedding, a deep standalone tub, a rainfall shower, and all the little luxury touches you want from a five-star hotel. I especially loved the CODAGE Paris products and the in-room coffee machine. The garden patio and bathroom in my room (Image: Poppy Huggett) It felt like the kind of place made for couples, but also for solo travellers like me who just needed quiet, comfort, and space to decompress. Dinner that night was at SABA Restaurant, which serves Mediterranean food with real flair. We started with sharing plates - calamari rings, croquettes, burrata salad, bread with aioli, and Padrón peppers - all rich with flavour. Our sharing starters at SABA Restaurant (Image: Poppy Huggett) For mains, I had a creamy seafood and shellfish rice that was like the love child of a paella and a risotto, and dessert was a melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake that I'm still thinking about days later. Breakfast at Orangerie was buffet-style but with real quality. I had everything from sausages and bacon to hash browns, freshly made omelettes (cooked in front of you with your chosen ingredients), and of course, stacks of pancakes with Nutella and fruit. The chef cooks your chosen omelette in front of you (Image: Poppy Huggett) It's the kind of breakfast that makes you want to book another night just so you can have it again. On Wednesday, we ventured out to Son Moragues (SONMO) for their Olive Oil Experience, which turned out to be one of the most special excursions I've ever done. The mountains at SONMO (Image: Poppy Huggett) Picture this: you're riding through the Tramuntana Mountains in a vintage Land Rover, passing ancient olive groves under a clear blue sky, and then tasting oils while learning about sustainability, history, and craftsmanship. The stunning olive grounds at SONMO (Image: Poppy Huggett) We even got to see the men at work in the ceramic workshop who were using traditional methods to mould clay into beautiful pieces. The day ended with a peaceful picnic under the olive trees and it truly felt like something out of a romance novel. Our olive tasting session (Image: Poppy Huggett) Back at the hotel, I spent the late afternoon by the adult-only pool (quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by greenery) before dinner at Theatre Kitchen - an immersive dining experience where chefs prepare sushi right in front of you like edible artwork. It was mesmerising and delicious – my favourite plates of the evening were the steamed chicken gyozas and beef noodles. The chosen dishes which were prepared in front of us at Theatre Kitchen (Image: Poppy Huggett) By Thursday, I was already dreading the idea of going home. I was treated to a massage at Maison Codage with a therapist named Edgar, who offered either a deep muscle or relaxation option. I chose relaxation, and it was so good I drifted off during the session. The treatment room (Image: Poppy Huggett) The lavender-scented oil, soft lighting, and quiet atmosphere were exactly what my overworked back needed. Later, I wandered into Santa Ponsa, a small coastal town just five minutes away by taxi - or a 20-minute ride on the free electric bikes the hotel provides. Santa Ponsa beach is a five minute drive away (Image: Poppy Huggett) It's got a gorgeous beach, plenty of local shops, and a great mix of lively bars and laid-back cafés. If you fancy a night out, Magaluf is just 15 minutes away, and Palma is around 20, so you're never far from the buzz if you want it. Before heading to the airport, we had lunch at Zayt Pool Club back at Kimpton, and honestly, it was one of the culinary highlights of the trip. Zayt Pool Club (Image: Poppy Huggett) Everything here felt effortlessly chic - from the setting around the pool to the service. We started with warm olives, a meat charcuterie board, and a chicken Caesar salad that was so fresh and crisp it could have been picked that morning. My food highlights at Kimpton Aysla Mallorca (Image: SONMO) For mains, we shared a steak platter served with perfectly roasted vegetables and sweet potato fries — indulgent and satisfying in the best way. And dessert? A rich, gooey chocolate brownie-style cake with ice cream that brought everything to a decadent close. This was my absolute favourite dessert of the trip (Image: Poppy Huggett) The food across all the restaurants was consistently 10/10 — each meal felt thoughtfully prepared and deeply satisfying without being over-complicated. As my trip came to an end, I couldn't stop thinking about how easy it had all been. Some highlights of the trip (Image: Poppy Huggett) The short flight, the calm transfer, the quick check-in. But more than anything, it was how balanced everything felt - luxury without stiffness, peace without pretension, and warmth without being over the top. Kimpton Aysla Mallorca is the perfect retreat for Londoners wanting to escape the city (Image: SONMO) If you live in London and you're burnt out, overstimulated, or just dreaming of sunshine, Kimpton Aysla Mallorca is the reset button you didn't know you needed. It's everything a great escape should be - easy, beautiful, restful, and just far enough to feel like you've really got away.
Local Spain
10-04-2025
- General
- Local Spain
Where to find your Spanish NIE number if you don't know it
For Members What happens if you've misplaced your residency or NIE document and you don't know your foreigner identity number off by heart? Here are all the places you can find this number if you need to use it for any given reason. NIE stands for Número de Identificación de Extranjero. It's a 'Foreigner Identification Number' for non-Spanish citizens. You will need one for many different processes when living in Spain. You'll even need one if you're a non-resident and your want to buy a property or a car here for example, even if you'll only stay here for less than three months a year. If you're a resident in Spain, you will use your NIE for many different purposes from registering with your town hall or your local doctor's surgery to signing rental contracts or even purchasing large items that need to be delivered like ovens for fridges. You possibly even know your number by heart. And if not, you can simply look in your wallet and find it written on your TIE or green residency certificate. But what about non-residents who have only used their NIE occasionally for purchasing a holiday home for example, what happens if you lose your NIE document and don't know what your NIE number is? Or what about those EU residents who have misplaced their green residency certificates with their NIE on? Is there an easy way to locate the number again? Yes, fortunately there are many different places that you can find your NIE, even if you lose the A4 sheet of paper or green certificate, or even your TIE card which includes the NIE number. For non-residents Property deeds If you're a homeowner you will have needed your NIE in order to purchase your property, therefore you will be able to find it on the property deeds. IBI bill You will also be able to find it on your IBI bill, which you receive once a year from your local council. It's a type of council tax that you pay annually. Invoices As mentioned above, you may have had to buy large items for your home, from furniture to a new kitchen hob. The companies you bought them from would have most likely requested your NIE when and if you have the invoices or facturas in Spanish, you should be able to find the NIE on there. Utility bills If you pay electricity, water or gas bills for your property, you will also find your NIE either on the paper or electronic bills you receive. Some companies also have online profiles for their customers, which should also detail your NIE. Police station As long as you can find your number somewhere, you should be fine, you may not need your A4 piece of paper anymore, but just in case you do, you will have to request a duplicate copy from your local police station, stating why you need a replacement. For residents If you're a resident and you've lost your NIE on your green certificate for example, it should be even easier to find as you will have it on many more documents and online services. As well as all the above places there are other places you can find it including: Padrón certificate This is the certificate you get when you register with your local town hall if you are a resident. It's like a type of census. You should get it within your first three months of moving to Spain or to a new property in a new area. This certificate will have your NIE on. Local clinic If you are registered with a doctor your local clinic will have a record of your NIE. Simply go there and hand in your health card and they will be able to tell you your NIE. If you have a way of logging on to the electronic health system in your region without your NIE (such as your fingerprint on the app), then you will also be able to find it there without going in person. Rental contract As well as having your NIE on property deeds, it will also be mentioned on your rental contract. Online If you have a digital certificate, which is a piece of software on your computer, which allows you to identify yourself officially online, then you can log on to the Mi área personal section of the Agencia Tributaria website. This will have lots of personal information if you are a tax resident. As your NIE is also the same as your NIF – your fiscal number, then you'll find it on there too.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘We brought him 4kg of ice-cream': Pope Francis's parlour shares papal favourites
When Sebastian Padrón opened his ice-cream parlour around the corner from Pope Francis's home in Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, his wife, Silvia, came up with a clever way of ingratiating her husband with his fellow Argentinian. 'She told me: 'Go and bring an ice-cream to Pope Francis,'' said Padrón. 'I said: 'Impossible.'' Dismissing her husband's scepticism, Silvia decided to take on the task herself. She scurried over to Casa Santa Marta, in a building adjacent to St Peter's Basilica, and asked a Swiss guard if she could bring some ice-cream for the pontiff. 'The Swiss guard said yes, and that whatever she brings to the pope he will gladly receive it. So we brought him 4kg of ice-cream.' It was 2018, and ice-cream orders from Pope Francis and other high-ranking Vatican officials became regular, marking the start of a friendship between the Padrón family and the pontiff, whose favourite flavour is dulce de leche, a typical Argentinian caramel dessert, although he also likes lemon and mango. But Padrón really captured the pope's heart in 2020, after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased, by sending him a home-made empanada, the Argentinian equivalent of a Cornish pasty. Again, it was Silvia's intervention that did the trick. 'She wrote a message on the empanada saying: 'It's about time we met',' said Padrón. 'Francis then called me and invited the family to Casa Santa Marta. I was so nervous but he made us feel completely relaxed. He's a very kind, simple person.' Francis, who has been in hospital with pneumonia for two weeks, was a regular visitor to the Italian capital before becoming pope in 2013, making friends with several shopkeepers, including keeping up visits to the premises of some despite his movements in public being limited, before his current bout of illness. Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on 14 February after struggling to breathe and was subsequently diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and pneumonia in both lungs. His condition has been touch and go but there has been a slight improvement in recent days. However, as of Thursday, medics still gave a 'guarded' prognosis, meaning he was not yet out of danger. The mood among well-wishers in Rome has been one of apprehension. 'We hope that he continues to get better, but I'm a little worried,' said Cristina who was in St Peter's Square with her husband, Mario. 'He was very much for ordinary people. We live in Rome … we've never met him but he feels more like a parish priest than a pope, such is his humility.' His relationships with local shopkeepers are seen by many as a testament to the humility of the pope, although some traders initially feared when he took up the papacy that his frugal approach might not favour them. '[When Francis became pope] he immediately started working to simplify things,' said Raniero Mancinelli, a tailor who owns Mancinelli Clero, a historic shop in Borgo Pio, next to the Vatican, that produces ecclesiastical robes and jewellery. 'We were a little concerned that this would mean cutting out a bit of luxury. But in the end we carried on working as usual.' Mancinelli, who has fitted out garments for Francis and met him personally, added: 'One might say he's stubborn, but I disagree. Yes, he's someone who is direct and likes to get things done. We are really rooting for him to pull through and want to see him back at St Peter's. Francis – the people are waiting for you.' Among the pope's other shopkeeper friends in Rome are Alessandro Spieza, an optician on Via del Babuino in the city's historic centre. The pope has occasionally turned up at the shop unannounced, arriving in his modest Fiat 500 or Ford Focus. In 2022, Francis, a lover of classical music, slipped out of the Vatican one evening to visit old friends at Stereosound, a music shop next to the Pantheon. He was there to bless the shop's new renovations and left with a gift box containing vinyls. Neither Spieza nor the owner of Stereosound wanted to recount their experiences to journalists, out of respect for the pope and his health. Nightly prayers vigils for the pope's health are being held at St Peter's basilica and in towns and cities across Italy and abroad, especially in his home city of Buenos Aires. 'May our prayer be the breath of air that Pope Francis's lungs need. Do not slow down. We need you very much,' Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, said this week.
